Taylor missed four months of the 2005-06 season with a dislocated shoulder, and he will be hoping the prognosis is good after sitting out much of the last campaign with a knee problem.

Meanwhile, Hughton has played down speculation linking the Magpies with summer moves for Spanish legend Raul and Marseille midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa, and admitted there has been no progress with Sol Campbell.

He said: 'Raul would have to take a huge pay cut to come here - I don't think he's going to do that.

'I read about Ben Arfa. He is a cracking player and it's nice to see us linked with him, but there has been absolutely no contact there whatsoever.'